I am currently working in a high school clinic. You would think that my biggest concern would be COVID right now, and you'd be right... but there is another problem that sits in the shadow of that menace, and it's just as destructive, but no one seems to be noticing...
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Well over 50% of the students I see on a given day aren't coming in there with skinned knees, or the sniffles. They're coming to my clinic in varying degrees of breakdown.
I'm seeing students in full-on panic attacks. Not "OMG I'm totally freaking out!" drama. Real attacks.
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Why is this a trend I'm seeing?
Well, it's layered.
On the surface, you have the obvious: these kids are afraid of COVID, and they have a reason to be. Their governor is more interested in fawning over his Republican base than doing the right thing, so not only...
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... are mask mandates not in place at the state level, he's actually sabotaging any district's attempt to put one in place to protect the students.
So, that's a big part of it. But these are also some hardworking kids. They're dedicated to their education.
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When they have to stay home to quarantine, it eats at them.
Social media is a poor substitute for human interaction, and they're losing a lot of that.
And despite the misconceptions of the older generations, these kids have a strong work ethic.
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The ones with part time jobs can't just quit and draw unemployment. Their bosses know that, and they're working them right into the gray area of legality. These kids are getting up, going to school, going home, changing clothes, working into the night...
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...going home, squeezing in their homework, and crashing for a few hours before starting all over again.
Any of us would have a tough time handling a schedule like that as grown adults. What chance do these kids have?
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And let's not forget that the jobs these kids have are the least likely to take precautions against COVID contact, and the most likely to have customers prone to verbally abuse the employees, who are nowhere near emotionally prepared to handle that.
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This pandemic, along with all the peripheral elements that go with it, is killing our kids slowly. And when they look around, all they see is a bunch of supposed adults ignoring their suffering as they play politics and act like poster children for Dunning Kruger.
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So I let them sit, or lie down, in my clinic. I let them cry. I let them rage. And, perhaps most importantly, I listen to them.
It's time more of us did.
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UPDATE: Oh my gods,I thought I was just yelling into the abyss! Thank you, all of you, who have reached out to me with your own stories and encouragement. You all have made more of an impact than you can imagine!
If I don't respond back to you...
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... please don't take it personally; I have a lot on my plate. But I want you all to know that we are in this together, and we CAN make a difference for our kids! Please stay strong and take care of yourselves! ❤